Collapsible support



April 23, 1963 5. J. HATTON 3,

COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT Filed NOV. 3, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR.

Samuel J Haifa 4 TTOPNEYS s. J. HATTON COLLAP'SIBLE SUPPORT April 23, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 3, 1961 INVENTOR. Smzzel J Haflora ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oflice 3,85,74 Federated Apr. 23, 1363 3,986,740 CQLLAPSELE SUHORT Samuel .l'oseph Batten, New Castle, Deh, assigner to Hi-Way Safety Equipment (Iompany, Wilmington, Del, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 149,965 9 Claims. (Cl. 248-166) This invention relates to a collapsible support and more particularly to an improved collapsible, foldable support adapted to be employed as a barricade or to serve as a support for lights to warn vehicle drivers.

It is an object of this invention to provide a collapsible support which is adjustable both in width and in height.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible support adapted to support lights in such a manner that the distance therebetween may be automatically adjusted upon adjusting the width of the support.

Another object of this invention is to provide a support which is adapted to be collapsed and folded into a relatively small size for convenient and protective storage and for easy transportation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible support which can be quickly and easily erected.

Another object is to provide a collapsible support which is not readily displaced or overturned.

Another object is to provide a collapsible support which is sturdy in construction, durable in use and economical to manufacture from readily available standard materials.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following specification when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the support in fully erected and extended position with lights shown attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the support illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one end portion of the support, taken in line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the support with the leg means at one end thereof shown in collapsed position and verti- 1 cally disposed, one of the legs being shown in folded position in solid lines and the other leg being shown in folded position in phantom lines;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the support in collapsed, folded position with the leg means rotated through 180 from the position they normally occupy when the support is in erected position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, to a position parallel to one another and to the end channel members of a lazy tong, the leg means also being shown in phantom lines in an alternative folded position wherein the legs are rotated through an angle of 90 from the normal erected position to lie substantially parallel with the lower extremity of the lazy tong; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of the support in the alternate folded, collapsed position disposed in a carrying case together with a light adapted to be employed with the support.

The collapsible support, generally indicated by the numeral 1, includes a lazy tong 3 provided with openings 5 in selected members thereof for attaching lights 7 to the support whenever desirable. At each end of lazy tong 3, a pair of vertically disposed, rigid, channel members 9 are secured together adjacent the ends thereof, with the web portions 11 of channel members 9 being disposed in spaced apart, parallel, back-to-back relationship, by means of rivets 13 passing through openings formed in web portions 11. The end members 14 and 14a of the lazy tong 3 are disposed between channel members 9 and are pivotally mounted on rivets 13, the end member 14 at each end of lazy tong 3 being formed with an elongated slot 15 to permit the lazy tong 3 to be extended and collapsed in the conventional manner. Each rivet 13 includes an enlarged body portion 16 and reduced end portions 17. Shoulders 18, formed between the reduced portions 17 and the body 16 of the rivet, contact the opposed surfaces of webs 11 of channel members '9 and space the channel members apart.

In order to mount leg means at each end of support 1, the Web portion 11 of each channel member 9' is extended below the lower extremities of flanges 19 of channel members 9 to provide a flat land portion 24?. An angle bracket 21 is pivotally mounted on one arm 23 thereof on an axis normal to the plane of lazy tong 3 for rotation through at least and preferably through 360 on the land portion 29 of each channel member 9. The reduced portions 17 of the rivets 13, which secure the lower ends of channel members 9 in spaced relationship, pass through aligned openings formed in lands 2%), and in the arms 23 of corresponding bracket members 21 and are upset as indicated at 25 to secure together the elements mounted thereon and to pivotally mount the brackets 21 on lands 2%. Each angle bracket 21 is formed with an opening 31 in the other arm 33 thereof for pivotally mounting a leg 35 thereon, the axis of the opening 31 being disposed normal to the axis about which bracket 21 rotates and positioned laterally outwardly beyond the outermost edges 36 of flanges 19 of channel members 9.

Each leg 35, which is preferably formed of angle iron, is provided adjacent the upper end thereof with an opening 37 formed in one branch 39 thereof. A rivet 41 passes through aligned openings 31 and 37 in each bracket and leg assembly, to mount legs 35 for pivotal movement on axes parallel to the plane of lazy tong 3 on brackets 21. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the opening 37 is formed adjacent the outer edge 42 of each branch 39 of legs 35 in such a manner that the outer edge 42 is disposed laterally beyond the outer edges 36 of flanges 19 of channel members 9 when legs 35 are arranged in parallel relationship to channel members 9, thus permitting legs 35 to rotate freely through 360 about reduced portion 17 of rivet 13 without contacting channel members 9 or lazy tong 3.

The other branch 43 of each leg 35 is designed to be slightly less in width than the distance between the opposed inner surfaces 45' of flanges 19 of each channel member 9.

The upper end 47 of branch 39 of each leg 35 is beveled as shown at 49 in order to provide a relatively long surface to cooperate with the surface of web 11 of the corresponding channel member 9 when leg 35 is pivoted about rivet 41 to bring the upper end 47 of the leg between flanges 19 and into contact with web 11.

A leg extension 52, in the form of an elongated channel-shaped member, may be adjustably mounted for longitudinal movement on branch 43 of each of the legs 35 with flanges 54 thereof embracing the opposite side edges of branch 43. An elongated slot 56, formed in the web 58 of each leg extension 52, receives a threaded fastener 60, passing through an opening aligned therewith formed in the lower portion of branch 43 of leg 35. A wing nut 62, mounted on fastener 60, is employed to secure each leg extension 52 in longitudinally adjusted position to leg 35.

For securing the legs 35 each end of support 1 in operative position with the upper beveled ends 49 thereof disposed between fianges 19, and in engagement with web-s 11 of channel members 9, brace members 64 are provided. At each end of support 1, a brace 64 is pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof on branch 39 of one of the legs 35 by means of a rivet 66 passing through aligned openings formed in branch 39 and in brace 64.

3 The other end of each brace 64 is formed with a slot 68 extending inwardly from the lower side 70 thereof, the slot 68 being adapted to engage a rivet 72 fixedly secured to branch 39 of oppositeleg 35 to maintain the legs 35 spaced in operative position.

It will be seen that the support disclosed herein is extensible by means of lazy tong 3 and is vertically adjustable by means of leg extensions 52. The support may be carried or stored in collapsed, folded position, as illustrated in FIG. 6, with the legs 35 disposed parallel with the lower edge of lazy tong 3, or as illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 5 with the legs parallel to each other and parallel with the channel members at each end of lazy tong 3. Flasher lights 7 or lights of any type may be attached to lazy tong 3 by fastening means passing through openings 5 provided therein, or by attaching the light to channel members 9. In the event that lights are attached adjacent opposite ends of lazy tong 3, the distance therebetween may be varied by extending or collapsing lazy tong '3.

The support disclosed herein is particularly designed for police cars, trucks, buses and all over-the-road vehicles, the operators of which find it desirable or neces sary to employ a barrier or a combined barrier and light support for warning vehicle drivers.

The various elements of the support may be for-med from aluminum or similar suitable light Weight materials when weight is a factor. If it is found desirable, weights may be attached to the legs of the support to prevent tipping or sliding movement thereof. It is to be noted, however, that the support will not be easily disturbed by wind because the lazy tong barrier construction oifers very little resistance thereto.

While a preferred form of the invention is disclosed herein, such modifications, changes, alterations and equivalents as my occur to those skilled in the art are intended to be encompassed by this invention as Wall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1

1. A collapsible support comprising:

(a) a lazy tong;

(b) a pair of spaced apart, rigid channel members secured together adjacent the ends thereof attached to each end of said lazy tong, a pivotally supporting said lazy tong therebetween,

(c) said channel members being vertically disposed with the web portions thereof in parallel, back-toback relationship,

(d) the Web portion of each of said channel members extending downwardly beyond the lower extremities of the flange portions thereof to form a land portion;

(2) a bracket pivotally mounted on an axis, normal to the plane of said lazy tong, on each of said land portions, for rotation through at least 180"; and

(f) leg means mounted adjacent the upper end thereof on each of said brackets for pivotal movement on an axis normal to the axis of rotation of said bracket,

(g) said upper end of each of said leg means being adapted to fit snugly between said flange portions of the corresponding channel member.

2. A collapsible support as defined in claim 1 wherein (a) said axis for pivotal movement of each of said leg means on the corresponding bracket is disposed in a plane parallel with the web of said corresponding channel member and spaced outwardly therefrom beyond the outer edges of the flanges thereof;

(b) the innermost extremity of said leg means, when said leg is disposed parallel to said corresponding channel member, terminating outwardly in spaced relation beyond said outer edges of said flanges,

(0) whereby each of said legs may be rotated through at least when disposed parallel to said corresponding channel member.

3. A collapsible support as defined in claim 1 wherein (a) said upper end of each leg is beveled,

(b) said beveled portion formed to be co-extensive with the outer surface of the corresponding web when said leg is disposed in operative position,

(6) whereby each leg is maintained in vertical position and rotation of said bracket on said land portion is prevented when said beveled portion is disposed in contact with said corresponding web.

4. A collapsible support as defined in claim 1 wherein (a) said leg means is of right angle configuration,

(b) one branch of said angle being disposed parallel to said web,

(0) the other branch of said angle extending inwardly from said one branch toward said corresponding channel member supporting said angle for pivotal movement on said bracket;

(d) a channel-shaped member, adjustalily mounted for longitudinal movement on said one branch of said angle, with the flanges thereof embracing the side edges of said one branch, forming an extension for said leg means; and

(e) means securing said extension to said leg in adjusted relationship.

5. A collapsible support as defined in claim 4 wherein (a) said lazy tong is formed with openings in selected members thereof adapted to mount flasher lights thereon; and

(b) means for securing each of said legs in operative position with said upper ends thereof disposed between said flanges of the corresponding channel member and in contact with said web of said corresponding channel member.

6. A collapsible support comprising:

(a) a lazy tong;

(b) leg mounting bracket means pivotally supported on said lazy tong at each end thereof for rotation, on axes normal to the plane of said lazy tong; and

(c) a pair of legs pivotally mounted on said bracket means at each end of said lazy tong on an axis parallel to the plane of said lazy tong,

(d) said legs being rotatable through an angle of at least 180 about said axis normal to the plane of said lazy tong from a depending, operative position to an inverted, folded position.

7. A collapsible sup-port as defined in claim 6 wherein:

(a) means are provided at each end of said lazy tong for maintaining said legs in vertically disposed, operative position with said legs diverging downwardly from said lazy tong; and

(b) means for securing said legs in said operative position.

8. A collapsible support as defined in claim 6 wherein:

(a) light means are removably attached to selected members of said lazy tong.

9. A collapsible support as defined in claim 6 wherein:

(a) said legs mounted at each end of said lazy tong are longitudinally adjustable to vary the height of said lazy tong.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,095,238 Shadduck May 5, 1914 1,243,520 Helwig Oct. 16, 1917 2,824,719 Nutting Feb. 25, 1958 3,015,804 Nunn' Jan. 2, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 601,518 France Dec. 1, 1925 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT COMPRISING: (A) A LAZY TONG; (B) A PAIR OF SPACED APART, RIGID CHANNEL MEMBERS SECURED TOGETHER ADJACENT THE ENDS THEREOF ATTACHED TO EACH END OF SAID LAZY TONG, A PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID LAZY TONG THEREBETWEEN, (C) SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS BEING VERTICALLY DISPOSED WITH THE WEB PORTIONS THEREOF IN PARALLEL, BACK-TOBACK RELATIONSHIP, (D) THE WEB PORTION OF EACH OF SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY BEYOND THE LOWER EXTREMITIES OF THE FLANGE PORTIONS THEREOF TO FORM A LAND PORTION; 